From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pentecost \Pen"te*cost\, n. [L. pentecoste, Gr. ? (sc. ?) the
fiftieth day, Pentecost, fr. ? fiftieth, fr. ? fifty, fr. ?
five. See {Five}, and cf. {Pingster}.]
1. A solemn festival of the Jews; -- so called because
celebrated on the fiftieth day (seven weeks) after the
second day of the Passover (which fell on the sixteenth of
the Jewish month Nisan); -- hence called, also, the {Feast
of Weeks}. At this festival an offering of the first
fruits of the harvest was made. By the Jews it was
generally regarded as commemorative of the gift of the law
on the fiftieth day after the departure from Egypt.
[1913 Webster]
2. A festival of the Roman Catholic and other churches in
commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the
apostles; which occurred on the day of Pentecost; --
called also {Whitsunday}. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Whitsunday \Whit"sun*day\, n. [White + Sunday.]
1. (Eccl.) The seventh Sunday, and the fiftieth day, after
Easter; a festival of the church in commemoration of the
descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost;
Pentecost; -- so called, it is said, because, in the
primitive church, those who had been newly baptized
appeared at church between Easter and Pentecost in white
garments.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Scots Law) See the Note under {Term}, n., 12.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Whitsunday
n 1: seventh Sunday after Easter; commemorates the emanation of
the Holy Spirit to the Apostles; a quarter day in Scotland
[syn: {Pentecost}, {Whitsunday}]
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